The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-04-09
THE MONTEREY BATHS.
A California Resort Which is Destined to
Become Rival of Nice.

A California Resort Which is Destined to
Become Rival of Nice.
Monterey, the old capital of Califor-
MIA. has begun its third historical cycle
within recent period The old Span
ish town is easily remembered by men
still living; the mOngrel struggling
village on the sand, inhabited by Next
cans, Indians, Americans and Chinese,
was the Monterey of only a few years
ago; and now fashionable people of the
Pacific slope and travellers from all
parts of the world know it as one Of the
most luxurious pleasure resorts on our
continent, or on any continent. The
climate is perfect, and the sea most at,
tractive. No less keen an observer than
Mr. Robert Louis Stevenson has written
of the bay of Monterey: 1.-The interest
is perpetually fresh. On no other coast
that 1 know shall you enjoy, in calm
sunny weather. such a spectacle of
oceans greatness, such beauty of
changing color, or such degrees of
thunder in sound. The very air is more
than usually salt by this Homeric
deep"
On such a historical spot, in such a
climate, and by such sea, drives have
been laid out fit for the chariots of the
| gods; there are fower-gardens where
plants of some variety bloom all the
| year; and the desperate effort to achieve
! the comfortable which the builders of
| modern hotels make has been as sue
cessful at Monterey as anywhere on
| our long coast line Fashion and the
| fabulous wealth of the Calfornians
have lent their aid to make it an ideal
| home for invalids and pleasures seekers;
| but the place is also as democratic a
resort as it is fashionable. Among the
most noteworthy preparations for
! health and pleasure there are the baths,
| which, without any fabulous medicinal
| quality whatever, have become as
| famous as baths that heal. In
| the great clearinghouse there are
three large compartments, or tanks
| if so commonplace aname may be given
to such luxurious things as they are
which are covered over with glass to
| admit light and sunshine. Into these
( compartments sea water is pumped, so
! that it is really only still water bath
ing. But about the walls which sepa-
rate one tank from another there is a
forest or wilderness of tropical
plants. Round about them are seats
wherefrom people observe the bathers
Jumping in from one side from spring
boards, shooting down from another
side as toboggan-riders do, or walking
or lounging along the walls in gaudy
bathing cos tunes, or swimming under
the branches and leaves and flowers of
the tropical vegetation. The bath
ing slide is novelty, and
ought to be called 1.-The Mon
terey." An incline covered with
slippery oil-cloth projects down
ward and outward from a platform up.
to which steps lead. The bather lies
down on the incline with his head to-
wM'd the water. A gentle push starts
him, as toboggan is started. His speed
becomes greater with astonishing rapid
ity, and in a second or two a ripple on
the water is all that is visible. 1t is
delightful sensation to shoot ones self
down with the greatest swiftness and
without danger, combining a slide and
dive in a single experience. When
one comes again to the surface to enjoy
swimming, one is greeted by the sun
light and gentle atmosphere of South
ern California streaming through the
glass, and loaded with the perfume of
flowers from a garden of hanging
baskets above. -HGrper's Weekly